Four newcomers join 8-member Gov.'s Council

BOSTON --The panel of elected officials that holds the fate of Gov. Deval Patrick's judicial nominees will undergo major turnover in January, with half of its members joining for the first time.

Three members of the Governors Council are leaving and a fourth new member will fill the spot of Councilor Kelly Timilty, who died this year. The four returning councilors are Marilyn Devaney, D-Watertown, Christopher Iannella Jr., D-Boston, Terrence Kennedy, D-Lynnfield and Jennie Cassie, R-Oxford, who will be the only Republican on the council next year.

In the 5th District, Eileen Duff, a Democrat from Gloucester, beat Haverhill Republican Maura Ciardiello to fill the seat left vacant by MaryEllen Manning. Manning ran this year for the state Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Frederick Berry but was defeated in the primary.

Duff, a realtor, campaigned on a promise to bring "civility" to the judicial vetting process, and supports disclosing applicants for judicial posts. Duff beat Ciardiello with 57 percent of the vote to her 43 percent.

The 5th District includes much of Greater Lowell: Dracut, Dunstable, Groton, Lowell, Pepperell, Tewksbury, Tyngsboro, Westford and Wilmington.

Devaney, in the 3rd District, survived a primary challenge and defeated Thomas Sheff of Newton on Tuesday, garnering 74 percent.

Devaney said she was overwhelmed by her huge victory, and cried when she learned she won 74 percent of the vote.

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"It was so humbling to know there are people out there who know you are working," she said.

During the campaign Sheff criticized the council as a "rubberstamp" and "riddled with personality conflicts." He said inappropriate questions are sometimes asked of nominees.

The 3rd District also includes much of Greater Lowell: Acton, Ayer, Bedford, Billerica, Boxboro, Burlington, Carlisle, Chelmsford, Concord, Littleton and Shirley.

Democrat Robert Jubinville, of Milton, and Republican Early Sholley, of Norfolk, fought to replace the late councilor Timilty. Jubinville beat Timilty's brother Bart Timilty in the primary, and went on to win the election with 60 percent of the vote.

In the 8th District, Michael Albano, of Longmeadow, beat Michael Franco, of Orange, to replace Councilor Thomas Merrigan, who did not seek re-election. Albano, the former four-term mayor of Springfield, won 69 percent of the vote to Franco's 31 percent.

While he was mayor, Albano's administration became the target of a federal investigation into corruption at Springfield City Hall, a fact that Franco noted during the campaign. The FBI investigation never resulted in charges against Albano but his former chief of staff and the leader of a city job training school did receive jail sentences.

Albano won the race after promising to bring his experience as a probation officer and member of the Parole Board to the council.

In the southernmost district, the 1st District, Republican Charles Cipollini was beat by his brother, Oliver, a Democrat who ran unsuccessfully in 2010. Oliver won 54 percent of the vote to 46 percent for Charles.

Charles Cipollini has referred to himself on several occasions as the "accidental councilor," saying he was not supposed to win but entered the race in 2010 as a fallback to increase the odds of a Cipollini being elected.

On Wednesday morning, both brothers were in the Governor's Council chambers. Charles Cipollini said he was happy his brother will take over his spot, despite their different political affiliations.

"He is very capable of doing the job. He has worked in the courts," Cipollini said. "He came to many of the meetings. He'll do a very good job, I am sure."

Charles, a retired high school math teacher, reiterated his plan to run for "higher office" but declined to say which one.

"I can't reveal that right now. We have to have a strategy meeting," he said. "My brother is going to carry the Cipollini name. That will make the newspapers, I am sure. We will use that to our advantage."

Oliver is a retired clerk magistrate and systems network manager who has worked with young adults in the juvenile court system as a social worker and as a counselor at St. Vincent's Home in Fall River. In his mission statement, Olivery Cipollini said he believes in inmate rehabilitation while incarcerated, and favors judges who deal "strictly" with repeat offenders.

The Governor's Council has often been the subject of criticism within state government and outside for occasional unruly meetings, yet it has survived legislative attempts to abolish it through a constitutional amendment.

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